Sewaneetigers
Res Ipsa Loquitur
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2007
- Messages
- 221
- Likes
- 12
Okay, I hear people say Tennessee defense should be more like the Steelers. (I think everyone for 30 years has said that. But currently the Steelers run a 3-4 defense, which has been very successful in the AFC over the past several years and seen some teams in the NFC adopt. People see the effectiveness of the 3-4 with teams like the Patriots and Steelers and ask why we don’t run that defense without realizing that it’s a whole lot more than just having one less defensive lineman and another linebacker. Quite frankly, we don’t have a front 7 big enough or talented enough to run a 3-4 for the following reasons:
#1 Nosetackle:
Nosetackle is the most important and toughest position to play in a 3-4 defense, you need a total space eating beast who loves to be double teamed and is very tough physically and mentally. The nosetackle has an enormous responsibility must be able to defend both of the A gaps. If you do not have a good nosetackle you are very vulnerable to having the offense run the ball through the tackles all day. Our overtackle, Demonte Bolden is 6’6’ 290 lbs, an average NFL nose tackle is 6’5’’ 350 lbs. Casey Hampton for the Steelers is an exception at 6’1’ 325 he plays bigger than he is. Bolden while he has improved at DT this year isn’t anywhere big enough or close to good enough to play NT.
#2 Defensive Ends:
3-4 Defensive ends are huge, like Demonte Bolden big, Richard Seymour of Pats or Aaron Smith of Steelers are both about 6’5 300 lbs. At UT our ends Ayers is 260, Martin 230, Reynolds 270. While in a 4-3 the end’s principal job is to generate a pass rush in a 3-4 they have to protect the linebackers who are the principal pash rushers as well as tackle in B and C gap for run support. That is why they are so much bigger than 4-3 ends. A 3-4 defensive end is basically like a glorified defensive tackle for all intensive purposes and will not rack up near as many sacks as a 4-3 end.
# 3 Linebackers:
Guess what, they’re bigger too. In a 3-4 as an inside linebacker because there are only three down lineman a 3-4 ILB must be able to take on and shed and unblocked O-lineman. Every linebacker on the Steelers, Farrior, Foote, Harrison, Haggans are around 240-250 lbs. Our biggest is Mayo at 230, Karl and McCoy are both about 215. The OLB’s in at 3-4 are the ones that get the sacks and the main reason the defense is superior in my opinion to the 4-3. It is impossible to tell which OLB is going to rush the passer which makes it difficult for the quarterback and the blockers. As a whole it puts more pressure on the quarterback but will not work without the type of players listed above. It also allows a DC to get really creative because you can play a lot with your linebackers and strong safety. But for the above reasons I don’t think it would work well at the college level.
#1 Nosetackle:
Nosetackle is the most important and toughest position to play in a 3-4 defense, you need a total space eating beast who loves to be double teamed and is very tough physically and mentally. The nosetackle has an enormous responsibility must be able to defend both of the A gaps. If you do not have a good nosetackle you are very vulnerable to having the offense run the ball through the tackles all day. Our overtackle, Demonte Bolden is 6’6’ 290 lbs, an average NFL nose tackle is 6’5’’ 350 lbs. Casey Hampton for the Steelers is an exception at 6’1’ 325 he plays bigger than he is. Bolden while he has improved at DT this year isn’t anywhere big enough or close to good enough to play NT.
#2 Defensive Ends:
3-4 Defensive ends are huge, like Demonte Bolden big, Richard Seymour of Pats or Aaron Smith of Steelers are both about 6’5 300 lbs. At UT our ends Ayers is 260, Martin 230, Reynolds 270. While in a 4-3 the end’s principal job is to generate a pass rush in a 3-4 they have to protect the linebackers who are the principal pash rushers as well as tackle in B and C gap for run support. That is why they are so much bigger than 4-3 ends. A 3-4 defensive end is basically like a glorified defensive tackle for all intensive purposes and will not rack up near as many sacks as a 4-3 end.
# 3 Linebackers:
Guess what, they’re bigger too. In a 3-4 as an inside linebacker because there are only three down lineman a 3-4 ILB must be able to take on and shed and unblocked O-lineman. Every linebacker on the Steelers, Farrior, Foote, Harrison, Haggans are around 240-250 lbs. Our biggest is Mayo at 230, Karl and McCoy are both about 215. The OLB’s in at 3-4 are the ones that get the sacks and the main reason the defense is superior in my opinion to the 4-3. It is impossible to tell which OLB is going to rush the passer which makes it difficult for the quarterback and the blockers. As a whole it puts more pressure on the quarterback but will not work without the type of players listed above. It also allows a DC to get really creative because you can play a lot with your linebackers and strong safety. But for the above reasons I don’t think it would work well at the college level.
